Reality Studio

Hello from Melusi!

This week we have finalized our prototype!With material from the project site, tools from University of Pretoria and the help of our local stakeholders we managed to finalize our water harvesting bench on time. On Thursday we had our final exhibition where we invited all the stakeholders and looked at all the final projects. It was a success!

A big thank you to everyone who made our trip and project so memorable and fun.

//Agnes, Hugo, Ida and Victoria

Amosi from Dunga Beach!🔥🐟

What a week it has been! We’ve built a whole roof with ventilation and water collection, to improve the fish mamas work environment.

On Friday we started the build with the help from our contractors (fundi) James and Kennedy. The whole structure was put up in a single day while the women were frying fish underneath. After a few more days of final touches the prototype is now completed!

The fish mamas are happy with the results and so are we! The only thing that remains now before we head back to Sweden is handing over the project so the improvements for the fish mamas can continue in the future.

Thank you for following us along these past weeks!

//Alva, Ebba & Jonna

Hello from Melusi!
This week started with freedom day, we got a tour in Johannesburg from the UP students and attended a celebration. We also held the final co-design workshop with the stakeholders, discussing questions like the shape and placement of the water collecting benches.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent building and we made good progress, co-building with the staff at MYDO.

See you next week!
//Agnes, Hugo, Ida and Victoria

Sasa!

Fingerling group here. Since last week we have combined and iterated our concepts to finalize the prototype for construction. Shoutout to Steve, from Zingira, who gave us recommendations on the construction based on his previous design and construction experience. It turned out he also had previous experience with fish ponds — a perfect match for us.

Today we have presented our idea to UDS, who approved us to start building tomorrow. Wish us good luck!

Tuonane baadaye,
Amogh, Emma, Maja, Josefin

Hello from Dunga Beach!

The theme of the week is prototyping🥳

Sometimes the best way to figure things out is by working with your hands - something we’ve been doing a lot this week. We’ve made small scale models and performed smoke tests to explore solutions that could potentially improve the work environment for women frying fish at the market. 🔥🐟

See you again next week! (And remember to build models, it’s fun!)

// Alva, Ebba & Jonna

Hello! It is CareRoot Tuesday! And we want to take you along for a day in our life. Brick by brick.🧱

08:30
We started the day by collecting the tools needed for our first construction day. We could borrow tools from the University of Pretoria and complemented this with a stop at the hardware store.

11:03
Arriving in sunny Melusi, we got straight to work, defining the boundaries and measuring the first area for our paving.

11:33
The groundbreaking ceremony in parallel with a turn to “Morris Scrapyard” to collect plastic sheets, bricks, gravel, and sand.

12:20
Preparing the ground.

13:59
Leveling and tamping.

14:01
Removing the mortar from the reclaimed brick.

14:27
Perforating, placing, and adjusting the found plastic sheet on the prepared foundation.

15:27
Fika.

15:57
Placing the first paving stones by the clinic entrance.

16:55
Ending the day in Melusi in the warm evening sun :)

Good night! // Anna, Elsa, Emma & Marilyn 🥕

Hello from the Waste Management team!

Last week was an eventful one ☀️

We joined a waste management lecture at UDS that gave us a better understanding of the opportunities with waste and also the legislations in place that affect the handling of waste📝

Then we held two workshops, one with the youth group Determined Achievers, who collect waste from households, and one with some residents from the local community. The discussions and drawings about sorting of waste and possible solutions gave really good insights to use in development of a feasible solution.

Lastly, we visited Maendeleo Material Recovery Facility, where we were enlightened about the way waste was handled at a smaller scale MRF.

A major focus is using local materials, so this week we will explore the materials and ideas more to then finally start building the prototype! 🔨

Until next time!
/Mia, Maureen, Maja, Rozet